Gantry car icer



March 19, 1957 A. J. MATTHEWS.

GANTRY CAR ICER Y Filed Dec. 1. 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. in J Mirna/.5 BY Z Mamh 19, 1957 A. J. MATTHEWS GANTRYV CAR 105R 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 1, 1953 IN VEN TOR. iii/7 Mrr/a-w:

lrropA ir March 19, 1957 A. J. MATTHEWS 2,785,733

GANTRY CAR ICER Filed Dec. 1, 1953- 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N V EN TOR. I: (Kerr/15w! lffOP/Vi/ March 19, 1957 Filed D66. 1, 1953 A. J- MATTHEWS GANTRY CAR ICER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. [954 J. Mrmzws A'rrain n March 19, 1957 A. J. MATTHEWS GANTRY CAR ICER Filed Dec. 1, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 0oooooooooooooooooooooooo00000000o xxxmxr Q:

FIG. 8

IN V EN TOR.

fit. 9

'for icing.

United States Patent GANTRY CAR :ICER

Arba J. Matthews, Watso'nville, cans, 'assignor to The Union Ice Company, a corporation Application December 1, 1953, SerialNo. 395,128

2 Claims. (Cl. 198-188) In the movement of produce requiring refrigeration;

for example, lettuce, the growing season andjthe growing rate are such that entire train loads of refrigerator cars loaded with lettuce must be supplied in the shortest possible space of time with ice for cooling the produce in transit. Usually, the ice is manufactured in 300 pound blocks and is stored for a short time until a train arrives Then the ice blocks are cariied to the 'refrigerator cars, are broken up into smaller, irregular chunks, and are introduced through the :bunker openings or hatches in the top of the individual cars to remain in ice bunkers at the opposite ends of the cars during transit. The ice blocks are sometimes broken up into fine shavings or small chips or virtually snow before loading into the refrigerator cars, but in the present instance the generally rectangular blocks are'u'suall-y broken down into pieces not much smaller than 10 or 2.0 pounds each.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a means for quickly supplying refrigerator cars with ice of the character indicated.

Another object of my invention is to provide a car icer efiective for icing one or several entire trains of refrigerator cars in a very short space of time.

Another object of'my invention is to provide-a means for icing refrigerator cars in whatever location the cars happen to be on the track.

Another object of my invention is 10 provide a car icer effective with very littlemanual labor to serve in the icing of a large number of refrigerator 'cjars.

Another object of my invention i-stoprovidea mechanism which is relatively simple and inexpensive for handling a large volume of 'ice in a short space of time at a number of different icing locations.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a car icing device which utilizes many-standardprinciples of ice handling, yet is efle'ctive to permit the rapid icing of train loads of refrigerator cars.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a car icer whichis relatively safe inits operation.

Other objects, together'with the 'fo're'goingare attained in the embodiment of'the gantry car ice'r of rny invention described in the accompanying description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a plan of a gantry cat-icer constructed in accordance with my invention shown in the operation of icing a refrigerator car, portions of the str-uc'ttfres being broken away to reduce the size of the lfigure=and part of the superstructure of the gantry car licer being removed on a horizontal sectioniplane in or'dert'o disclose -the interior structure.

Figure 2 is an enlargedview showing "the car Patented Mar. 19, 1957 '2 icer in icing'position, certain portions being'broken away to reduce the size of the figure.

Figure 3 a cross section, the plane of which is indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an end view of the gantry car icer of my invention, portions of the associated trestle structure being shown in cross section.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail of part-of the platform mechanism utilized in the gantry.

Figure '6 is a side elevation, portions being broken away to reduce the size of the figure, of the platform controlling structure shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a detail in cross section, the plane of which is indicated by the line '77 of Figure 2.

Figure'8 is a detailed cross section, the section line being indicated by the line 8'8 in Figure 2.

Figure 9 is a detail showing in side elevation the propulsion structure or driving mechanism for the gantry.

Figure 10 is a cross section, the plane of which is indicated by the line 10'10 of Figure 9.

While the construction of the gantry car icer of my invention can be varied considerably, depending upon the particular environment in which it is to be utilized and depending also upon the particular duty that it is to perform, it has very successfully been incorporated and operated in the form shown herein. The gantry car icer is located preferably between one car track 6 and a parallel car track 7 on each of which refrigerator cars, such as 3 and 9, are drawn in train in'the customary fashion. A typical refrigerator car 8 is provided in its roof on opposite sides of the center and near the op posite ends with one 'ormore hatches 11 or bunker openings, through which ice can be introduced into the 'interio'r of the car.

Preferably'disposed midway between the tracks 6 and 7 so that car's in train on both of them can be simultaneously loaded, is a trestle frame 12, preferably fabricated of suitable'material such as lumber. The trestle extends between the tracks 6 and 7 and parallel thereto forat least the length of the longest trains stationed on thetrac'ks 6 and'7. The trestle also extends to a supply house -n'o"t's'ht')wn) wherein ice blocks of a "suitable nature arepf'ovided. Preferably, the height of the trestle frame 12 is about equal to that or is a little 'more than that of the roof '13 of the adjacent-refrigerator cars on the tracks 6 and 7.

The trestle frame 12 at its upper end carries an ice way 13 conveniently in the shape -'of a trough having a bottom 1'4 and Opposite confining sides 15 and lo. Preferably the trough is lined with a suitable material, such as metal, to support and guide blocks '17 of ice resting therein. Theice way -15-is substantially level or :follows the contour of the car tracks 6 and 7, although at one end adjacnt the ice supply house it may descend on 'an in'c'line in a well known way to receive individual Adapted t-os'traddle the trestle frame 1 2 is an icing gantry, --generally designated 21, which includes-a frame- :work 22 mounted on wheels 23 resting on rails 24 and '26 spaced apart somewhat more than normal gauge. The rails '24 and- 26 extend alongside the-trestle 1'2 and follow generally ithe elevation and contour of the car '-tracks' 6 and '7. They are of substantially the same total taught as f tha't of the trestle 12. The gantry frame '22 is prop'elle'd-on the rails-24 and 26 in its position straddling the trestle 12 by means of an electric driving motor 27'6Figutc 9). -'l'-he motor is supplied with electric current from-conductors 28 and -29 on the trestle'frame 12. Appropria-te shoes 'or'tfiolle'y collectors are=included in-conduc't-dfs 31 and .32 which eitendto 'a oontrol panel '35 Z-mottiited on the gantry frame zz ana fr'om th'e controller 1: to the motor. 27. The motoracts-throngh :a s'iiitt tble reduction gear 36 to drive a chain 37 connected to a sprocket 38 joined to one of the wheels 23. Preferably,

the drive structure, as shown in Figure 9, is duplicated for at least two of the wheels 23 supporting the gantry so that adequate and even driving power is furnished to move the gantry up and down the rails 24 and 26 alongside the tracks 6 and 7. The control panel 33 is provided with controllers so thatthe gantry 21 can be stopped in any desired location alongside the tracks 6 and 7.

Protected by a roof 38 at the upper portion of the gantry frame 22 is an operators platform 39 at an elevation substantially that of the ice way 13 at the top of the trestle 12. The platform 39 is actually 'in two parts located either side of the trestle and extends to within a short distance of the sides of the ice way. The framing of the gantry is such that it clears the trestle 12 in all respects except for the contact of the electrical accumulators with the conductors 28 and 29. With this arrangement, therefore, an operator standing on the platform 39 near the control panel 33 can run the icing gantry up and down the rails 24 and 26 always in close operating relationship with the ice way 13.

In order that ice blocks can be handled on the gantry, the platform 39 is in part covered and bridged across bya metallic plate 41 constituting an ice slide disposed not only over the platform portions 39 but also disposed over or lying above the ice way 13. A part of the ice slide extends laterally to the two side extremities of the platform 39 whereas the central portion of the plate forming the ice slide 41 exactly overlies the ice way 13, particularly the bottom 14 thereof. In addition, the plate 41 is extended or is providedwith means for diverting ice from the bottom 14 of the ice way 13 to the ice slide 41. This means includes a downwardly directed metallic flap 42 or ramp at one end of theice slide plate 41 The terminus of the ramp or flap 42 is in contact with or substantially in contact with the lining in the bottom of the ice way 13. Also, the ice slide 41 is for a portion of its length provided with side walls 43 and 44 (Figure 2) approximately overlying the side walls and 16 of 'the ice way trough and further having inclined ends 46 and 47 to serve as guides for ice blocks.

In order to convey or propel ice blocks from the position of storage into a position for use anywhere along the tracks 6 and 7 at an elevation approximately equal to that of the top of the cars, theice way 13 in its bottom is provided with a channel 51 in which the upper run 52 of a conveyor chain is disposed. The conveyor chain not only operates in the channel 51 in the ice way but likewise lifts slightly near the ramp 42 to run in a sec- 1 ond channel 53 formed in the bottom of the ice slide plate 41. The upper chain run 52 then returns to the channel 52 in another portion of the trestle ice way.

The chain 52 at its opposite ends is trained about appropriate sprockets 54, one of which is shown in Figure 4, and the lower run 56 of the chain returns in a guide trough 57 included in the framework 12 of the trestle.

ed so that the chain 52 is advanced in the direction of the arrow 59, usually in a continuous fashion. The chain at appropriate intervals in its length is provided with upstanding enlargements 61 (Figure 7) efliective to engage behind one end of a cake or block of ice. Often ice blocks of the 300 pound size are conveyed with a narrow face on the bottom, but in the present instance they are preferably propelled by the chain and enlargements 61 in the direction of their length with a wide face on the bottom.

; 1. 33 the operation of. this chain conveyor structure,-ice blocks 17 in the ice way 13 are advanced along the top of the trestleuntil they come to the gantry. There they An appropriate drive mechanism (not shown) revolves the shaft 58 on which the sprocket 54 is mountnot the gantry happens to be stationary in one position or happens to be travelling to or fro on the rails 24 and 26. Usual-ly,'the gantry makes periodic stops or reduces its speed substantially near the bunker or hatch openings 11 of the respective cars but if desired the gantry can operate continuously. In the event the gantry is moving toward the source of supply of the ice blocks, the speed of operation of the conveyor chain can be slowed so that the relative speed of receiving ice blocks on the gantry frame is at a desired rate while if the gantry happens to be moving away from the source of supply of ice blocks the speed of the chain 52 can be increased to maintain the desired rate of receipt of ice blocks at the gantry.

Ice blocks received on the gantry on the ice slide 41 and disposed between the guides 43 and 44 are preferably defiected laterally for further handling. Since the ice slide 41 itself is a plate which extends to the opposite side of the gantry frame on the platform 39, I provide a means for appropriately deflecting the ice blocks either way. Disposed above the plate 41 are curved barriers 66 and 67 which extend from points near the chain to .the edges of the platform 37.

At the ends of the barriers 66 and 67 are disposed circular sockets 68 and 69 while similar circular sockets 7.1 and 72 are provided at the ends of the walls 43 and 44. A section of curved channel 73 is provided of a sufficient length slightly to overlap the wall 43 and the barrier 67, for example, and is provided with downward ly extending pegs 74 and 76 (Figure 8) so that the curved and removable channel 73 can be pegged into the sockets either in the full line position or in the dotted line position shown in Figure 2. The removable channel 73 extends over the chain 52 and does not interfere with the flights or enlargements thereon and furthermore is reinforced and held in position by a support pin 77 adjacent its center portion which rests on the plate 41.

By appropriately positioning the removable channel 73, ice blocksarriving on the ice slide 41 are diverted laterally either to'the right or to the left so that the enlargements completely disengage from the ice blocks as the ice blocks turn aside.

In order to conduct the ice blocks from their diverted location toward the bunker openings or hatches 11, I provide on either side of the gantry frame 22 a pair of platform aprons 81 and 82. These aprons are preferably connected to the gantry frame by hinges83 so that in a lowered position, as shown in the figures, they are at least in part supported by safety chains 84 extending from the outer portions of the aprons to anchors on the gantry frame.

The aprons can be moved from their substantially horizontal positions, in which they are in effect continuations of the platform 39, into an upper position in which the aprons are substantially vertical. In their raised position, they serve as barriers or blocking walls to prevent the accidental discharge of any ice blocks which might be on the ice slide 41 and so especially prevent accidental dislodgement of any ice during movement of the gantry. The aprons 81 and 8 2 are preferably constructed of metallic frameworks with wooden flooring matching the flooring of the platform 39, and have metallic apron extensions 85 to assist in bridging the distance between the edge of the apron and the opening 11.

When an apron'is lowered, as shown in Figure 4, for

example, an operator standing thereon with a suitable 'cient ice is diverted to charge or fill the bunker 11. When that has been accomplished, the gantry is moved along .or continuestosmovealong slowly to the next opening.

It is not 'nec-' It is possible to move the gantry with the aprons 81 and 82 extended as shown, but it is usually preferred v to move the aprons into thefr retracted or vertical position for greater safety during the movement of the gantry. For that reason there is provided a quick acting mechanism for lifting and lowering the aprons, as shown especially in Figures 5 and 6.

On the gantry frame 22 above each of the aprons 81 and 82 is a suitable electric drive motor 86 which operates through a reduction gear 87 to revolve a shaft 88 carrying a winch drum 89 thereon. The winch drum has oppositely wound on it a pair of cables 91 and 92 trained over pulleys 93 and 94 and also trained over guide pulleys 96 and 97. Furthermore, the cables are led over guide wheels 98 located underneath the apron at the opposite sides thereof and terminate in spring mountings 101 secured to the sides of the apron.

With this arrangement, when the motor is properly energized, the apron is lowered until the chains 84 are taut. When the motor 86 is reversely energized, it winds in the cables 91 and 92 coiling them on the drum 89 and lifting the apron to its uppermost position, at which time an automatic stop (not shown) de-energizes the motor. In the event the automatic stop does not act exactly at .the instant that the platform apron is vertical, the spring members 101 yield slightly to avoid damage. In practice, the circuit energizing the motor 86 and its companion motor on the opposite side is preferably interconnected, either with an alarm or with the controller for the motors 27 so that, if desired, the gantry can not be moved until the aprons 81 and 82 are both in their vertical, safety positions. Then, whenever the gantry is stopped, either the apron 81 or the apron 82, or both of them, can be lowered for icing the adjacent car.

With this structure it is possible for a single icing gantry to travel alongside two trains of refrigerator cars, to receive a continuous supply of block ice from an appropriate source, to divert the received block ice at any point along the length of the trains to an exact registry with the bunker openings on the adjacent car or cars, to have the ice readily broken into suitable chunks by an attendant, and then to move along to the next station, no matter where located, without interrupting the supply of ice. All of this is done without any danger particularly if the aprons 31 and 82 are lifted during motion of the gantry. The arrangement is also such that merely by extension of the trestle frame 12 and of the rails 24 and 26 it is possible for the same gantry to service even two trains on the tracks 6 and 7 or to service individual cars in extremely long trains in the event only some of the cars need icing. Since the ice blocks are already elevated on the trestle, the power that it is necessary to supply the gantry is merely that required to move the gantry itself along the virtually level rails 24 and 26 and to operate the incidental mechanism, such as the aprons 81 and 82. It is therefore not necessary to have heavy electrical conductors 28 and 29 as it would be if ice elevating or crushing mechanism were included in the travelling gantry. By appropriate radio-telephone communication between the operators station on the platform 39 and the central supply establishment, the rate of advance of the conveyor 52 is appropriately regulated, the ice gantry is dispatched to an appropriate location along the tracks 24 and 26 in the event not all of the train cars have to be iced, and the overall icing of one, two or more trains is conducted with great efficiency and celerity.

What is claimed is:

1. A gantry car icer comprising a trestle including a frame extending to an elevation about equal to the height of said car, an ice way on said frame at said elevation,

said ice way including a trough having upstanding sides and a bottom for supporting an ice block, a first depressed channel set into and extending along said bottom, a gantry frame straddling and movable along said trestle, a horizontally extending ice slide plate on said gantry frame overlying said ice way at an elevation just above said sides, walls on said ice slide plate in vertical registry with said side of said trough, a second depressed channel set into and extending along said ice slide plate in vertical registry with said first channel, means on said gantry frame continuing one of said walls and curving over said second channel, a continuous conveyor chain having one portion disposed in said first channel and another portion disposed in said second channel, and enlargements on said conveyor chain for engaging ice blocks supported on said bottom of said trough and on said ice slide plate.

2. A structure as in claim 1 in which said gantry frame has a flap forming a ramp extending between said trough sides and from said ice slide plate to said trough bottom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,207,237 Stuart Dec. 5, 1916 1,403,921 Stuart Jan. 17, 1922 1,504,894 McBride Aug. 12, 1924 2,400,086 Hansen May 14, 1946 2,643,522 McLain June 30, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 175,509 Germany Oct. 1, 1906 435,711 France Mar. 8, 1912 

